College of Fine Arts & Communication

The College of Fine Arts and Communication provides high quality educational programs to a diverse student population. The primary focus is to prepare artists, professionals, and scholars of the 21st century. Students will comprehend the complexity of visual and performing arts, communicative arts and sciences, and media through the study of their aesthetics, creativity, history, theories, and applications.

From the time of entry to graduation, students are continually made aware of their progress through assessment strategies. Internships are available in some of the programs. The College believes that a quality education denotes its graduates will achieve the ability to think clearly and logically, draw meaningful conclusions from various languages, symbols and texts, make informed decisions, develop a modicum of self-discipline, acquire a thirst to achieve a high standard of scholarly and technical artistry or knowledge in their subject field, and critically examine the process of thinking intelligently so they can nourish the mind, foster integrity, refine character, and stimulate imaginative sensibilities.

Departments and Programs

Students in the College of Fine Arts and Communication may pursue studies in the following departments and programs:

Department of Art

B.A. in Art with additional options in:

Graphic Design Teacher Education

B.F.A. in Art with an additional option in:

Graphic Design

Department of Broadcasting

B.A. in Broadcasting

Department of Communication

B.A. in Communication

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders

School of Music

Bachelor of Music (B.M.) with options in:

Applied Music (Composition, Instrumental, Jazz, Piano, Vocal)

Music Business

Music Therapy

Teacher Education

B.A. in Music

Department of Theatre and Dance

B.A. in Theatre with options in:

Acting

Directing

Production/Design

B.F.A. in Musical Theatre

The College of Fine Arts and Communication offers minor programs in the same fields as the major programs listed above (except Communication Sciences and Disorders and Musical Theatre). In addition, the College offers the following minor programs that have no corresponding majors: Acquisition and Disorders of Language, Art History, Dance, Film, Fine Arts Technology and Design, Speech Science, Sports Broadcasting, and Studio Art.

Majors and Minors

Course requirements for Fine Arts and Communication majors and minors are given under the department headings. The departments of the College of Fine Arts and Communication are authorized to grant a baccalaureate degree to students completing the following groups of courses:

University General Education Curriculum.

A department core of courses.

One of the options or concentrations offered by the student’s major department.

Art and Theatre majors must meet specific grade point average requirements in the departmental core to enroll in the comprehensive program. Admission to all programs in Music is contingent upon satisfactory performance in audition. Major programs with a conventional minor continue to be available.

Academic Advising

A student enrolling in programs offered by the College of Fine Arts and Communication must consult with an adviser. The adviser helps make registration and allied procedures as easy as possible. The adviser can succeed in this task only if the student maintains contact. The adviser should be consulted regarding all courses taken and dropped in order to insure that the requirements of the program being followed will be properly fulfilled. From the University’s standpoint, an accumulation of courses and credits does not necessarily constitute a degree program. Students with special problems are encouraged to seek assistance from their teachers and the department chairperson. Students majoring in Art, Music, and Theatre can obtain a general education adviser through the University Advising and Academic Services Center.

Communication students who are pursuing the major at the WIU-Quad Cities Campus may contact the Communication Adviser at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities campus, Mr. Kenny Wheeler [KW-Wheeler@wiu.edu, (309) 762-3999, Ext. 62327].

Each academic program in the College of Fine Arts and Communication has its own approach to advising and the students should acquaint themselves with that of their own major.

College Graduation Requirements

In addition to fulfilling University graduation requirements, students in the College of Fine Arts and Communication must:

Complete the appropriate total of semester hours needed for graduation in the specific curriculum pursued, including the major, the minor if needed, and electives. At least 42 s.h. must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

Complete at least 12 s.h. in courses numbered 300 or above in the major.

Licensure to Teach

Students enrolled in the College of Fine Arts and Communication who wish to obtain a teaching license must meet all criteria for admission to the Teacher Education Program, complete the teacher education curriculum, and complete the major or minor requirements Fine Arts and Communication 96 for teacher education students as described under the various department offerings in Fine Arts. See Teacher Education for additional information and specific requirements.

BCA

The College advises the BCA, an arts presenting student organization comprised of WIU students, high school students, faculty, staff, and community members. Affordable and diverse performances each year include national and international tours of Broadway, theatre, dance, symphonies, headline musical artists, chamber music, young artists, comedy, and youth programming.

Tri States Public Radio

The College operates WIUM 91.3 FM /WIUW 89.5 FM, a 24-hour-a-day National Public Radio member station, offering in-depth news, public affairs, and cultural programming. The stations offer two reading services to assist blind and print-disabled persons in the region, the Radio Information Service and the Personal Reader Service, which operate free of charge to clients.